When the 126th Annual Convention of the Western New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association (WNYVFA) commenced this July in Dansville, no one in Brockport knew that history was in the making.
By now, many are familiar with the story about Brockport Fire Police Captain Cheryl Wiest and her young neighbor meeting in a precarious way when he needed immediate medical attention for an arterial bleed and Cheryl was home nearby at the ready with her makeshift tourniquet to bring the bleeding under control.
Cheryl has received acknowledgement far and wide for her efforts in saving the life of another, but no one could have predicted the outcome when President Ronald Sabernick of the Brockport Volunteer Firefighters Association (BVFA) nominated her for recognition from the WNYVFA.
During independent award committee reviews with the WNYVFA, Cheryl is among several “firsts.” She is the first woman to receive the Fire Police Officer of the Year Award as is evidenced on the traveling trophy (that says “Fire Policeman of the Year”) that will be on display at the BVFA for the next year. And in speaking with members of the WNYVFA after the awards ceremony, she is the first person to ever receive both the Firefighter of the Year and the Fire Police Officer of the Year awards at the same time from the WNYVFA…